Nestled in the valley between the Green Mountains on the west and the Hogback Mountains on the east lies the picturesque village of Stowe, Vermont. The quintessential Currier & Ives Vermont town, with its white church steeple, covered bridge, and magnificent mountain, views is the perfect weekend getaway. This beautiful town is what everyone envisions Vermont to be like. The smell of fresh grass in summer or wood burning in winter awaken your senses as you approach this charming village.

While it is called the Ski Capital of the East, renowned for Mount Mansfield’s Front Four, that name belies the truly year-round appeal. I have enjoyed every season here, the colors more vivid than other places: the green fields of spring; the colorful wildflowers of summer; the browns, reds, and golds of fall; and the stark whiteness of winter. The beauty of Stowe has enticed movie-makers over the years as a prime location for films. The Trapp Family Property was the site of the top of the mountain shots of Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music” and the Edson Hill Manor hosted the movie “Four Seasons” with Alan Alda. If you are a skier or snowboarder, there is no better place to enjoy those sports in the East than Stowe. It is also a mecca for fly fishermen and the perfect place for hiking, and it boasts a magnificent Recreation Path that winds through the woods.

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Stowe is a 5.5-hour drive from New York City and 3.5 hours from Boston. A Friday morning departure gets you into Stowe in time for lunch. Leave midday on Sunday and you are home in time for dinner. Stowe can also be reached by air into Burlington, Vermont, about a 40-minute drive from Stowe, and is also accessible by Amtrak to Burlington from New York. Recent round-trip airfares from New York were about $252.

When To Go: Stowe is a wonderful weekend destination any time of year. While most people think of Stowe in terms of winter, which brings an average seasonal snowfall of over 200 inches, spring awakens the land with rushing streams, brooks of melting snow, and a vivid green that gave the mountain range its name. In summer the meadows are filled with wildflowers and the fall foliage is so spectacular, it will take your breath away.

${BestWay} Virtually all activity is centered in town or up the Mountain Road. There is a shuttle that travels from town up to the mountain and back down the Mountain Road from 8am to 10pm. While this eliminates the need for a car, in truth, you cannot really enjoy the area completely without a car.
From journal Weekend in Stowe